chapter 17
Selene had never felt so self-conscious in her life. Lila had managed to talk her into wearing a tiny white skirt with a striking purple top, which looked modest enough from the front, but the back was nearly non-existent, only staying put because of a few well-placed strands that crisscrossed her shoulders. Thank goodness she had long hair.
She followed her friends into the club and could barely hear anything over the booming of the music. Somehow they’d managed to commandeer a table large enough for all of them. Once they sat down, Selene glanced around and noticed several appreciative stares. Alex, Ramsey, and Nate left to get drinks while she and the girls got settled.
“What do you think?” Adelaide yelled over the music.
“I don’t know yet. It’s too loud to think!” Selene shouted back.
“Well, let’s get you on the dance floor, girl!” Lila grabbed her hand and pulled her up.
Once on the dance floor, Selene carefully imitated what the other girls were doing. Apparently the goal was to either join with a group of girls, dancing as provocatively as you could, or to dance with a guy, in which case there was a lot more provocative movement going on, but directed at that particular guy. Selene found dancing to be incredibly liberating. The beat got into her blood, and after a while she was throwing aside her own ingrained inhibitions and wiggling her hips along with all the other girls on the floor.
Eventually the song changed, but she and the girls stayed out on the floor. Random guys came up to them, trying to get in close, but they’d just laugh them off and turn their backs each time. Sweat started to curl the hair at her temples, making Selene glad she’d worn so little clothing. Otherwise she’d be sweltering.
After a while she needed a break. She was sitting at the table sipping her ice water when a shiver of apprehension shimmied down her spine… followed by a sense of dread.
She casually turned her head to gaze around the club, pretending to be taking in the scene. But as far as she could tell, there was no one there who shouldn’t be there, or at least no one who seemed obviously put of place. Just throngs of club-goers lost in their own worlds, not paying attention to her at all.
Selene mentally scolded herself for her paranoia, but it was understandable. It was almost second nature after Gideon’s long reign and the years he’d spent watching every single thing she said and did.
She was just forcing her muscles to relax, when a large male hand landed in front of her on the table. “Wanna dance?” Griffin asked. His lips were so close to her ear, she could feel his breath stir her hair.
Selene hid her surprise as she gracefully rose from her chair and placed her hand in his, secretly reveling in the warmth and strength that radiated through that one small point of contact. Griffin followed her to the dance floor, as they threaded their way through people and tables. As they reached their destination, Griffin turned her to face him, then released her hand. Together they started moving, not touching, just dancing. Griffin didn’t move much at first, clearly a little uncomfortable with the public display. But his eyes never left her, and Selene couldn’t look away.
Something took over inside her, and she started dancing just for him. The more she moved, the hotter Griffin’s gaze became, until only the two of them were there, together in their own little world. Like when she visited him in his dreams. The people around them seemed to just fade away. As though he were unable to resist, Griffin stepped up to her and placed a hand at her hip. At the contact she stilled, and they stood for a moment, just looking at each other. Then they started moving. Together.
Their bodies pumped in a sensuous rhythm, not quite touching except where his hand remained on her hip. One of his knees slipped between her legs. The thump of the beat resonated in Selene’s blood. She closed her eyes, letting the sensations take over. Her arms slipped up through her hair, lifting the heavy mass off her sweating neck and then let it fall back down as her hands twisted in the air above her head.
Desire pulsed through her in time to the music. With a little shimmy, she gave him her back, undulating her spine enticingly. His hand returned to her hip, drawing her body into his. She felt surrounded by Griffin… his heat, his seductive scent. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once, setting her already hot skin on fire.
Despite her earlier anger at him, she felt a secret thrill at being so close to him here in the dark, their bodies sweating as they gyrated to the thumping beats. She tossed him a look over her shoulder that was all woman. Leaning back, she lifted her hands over her head to catch him by the scruff of neck and gently pulled him closer.
“I assumed you weren’t going to come!” she shouted.
“I decided to join you!” he yelled back.
“Oh… why?”
When Griffin didn’t respond, she thought maybe he hadn’t heard her over the noise. But then he put his lips up to her ear. “I don’t want to fight with you tonight.”
Selene turned in his arms, still grinding to the music as her body responded to his. She stared at him, his face only a few inches away from hers, and gave him a small smile. Griffin pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. The fingers at her back started to slowly caress her skin, and Selene was immensely grateful she’d worn the backless top.
She closed her eyes, savoring his closeness. She thought she felt Griffin dip his head and lightly brush his lips across her bared shoulder. But when she opened her eyes and glanced at him, he just looked steadily back at her. She must’ve imagined it. Despite that, shivers of wanting shimmied up and down her back, making it impossible for her to ignore the desires and dreams centered on this man that she’d held in check for so long.
The music changed, and Griffin stepped back. He offered her his hand and led her back to their table like a gentleman. No one in their group commented on his return or their provocative dancing, although she noticed Ellie raising her eyebrows at him. To Selene this was fascinating. She’d never had a family that cared enough to banter with her or tease her or one she’d felt safe enough with to do the same.
Griffin didn’t ask her to dance again, but she had several more rounds with the girls and felt him watching her the whole time. Excitement fizzed inside her like effervescent bubbles. Selene was grateful for her blocking ability; otherwise, Lila and Ellie would be having a field day with her right now. Selene was having so much fun, she was surprised when it was time for last call. How the heck was it already so late? Or rather, so early in the morning?
Sad that her wonderful time had come to an end, Selene gathered her things and they all headed home.
*****
“Who’s on first shift?” Selene asked, yawning.
“I am,” Griffin answered. He leaned casually in the doorway to the family room and gave her a small shrug. “It’s only fair,” he added. “I haven’t done it yet.”
“I’ll watch, too,” Ramsey volunteered. Lila gave a small frown.
Griffin furrowed his brow. “Thanks, but I don’t need any help.”
“We always stay with Selene in pairs,” Alex explained as he entered the room. He held two water bottles and gave one to Ellie.
“Her idea,” Adelaide added. Griffin raised a curious eyebrow at Selene, and she shrugged.
“It’s for your own safety,” she muttered.
Griffin cocked his head to the side and gave her a scrutinizing look. “Do you believe that you are dangerous to us?”
“I didn’t think so until I had these nightmares,” Selene replied.
“But now you have doubts?”
“I don’t really know what to think,” she said quietly.
Griffin considered her words for some time. “I’ll take my chances,” he eventually said.
“But—”
Griffin held up his hand. “Ellie and I are connected. She’ll know if something is happening.”
Selene folded her arms across her chest. “Not if I’m blocking her.”
“Would you really do that?”
“Not consciously,” Selene admitted. “But what if I don’t know I’m doing it?”
Griffin crossed the room and stood before her. With a gentle finger under her chin, he lifted her face until she met his eyes again. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” She paused, the irony not lost on her. “But you don’t trust me.”
Griffin smirked. “Exactly.”